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The Education Department updated its guidance for colleges and universities on supporting current and formerly incarcerated individuals and helping this group access higher education.
The updated guidance comes after college-in-prison programs have expanded in recent years and as students in prison will once again be eligible for the Pell Grant starting July 1.
“These college in prison programs will increase the number of formerly incarcerated students seeking to continue their education post-release, and the institutions that serve them should be prepared to support them in their journey,” the guidance says.
The guide builds on its 2016 “Beyond the Box” report and recommends ways for institutions to mitigate barriers such as by partnering with a college-in-prison program and refraining from collecting criminal justice information during admissions. The department says that colleges and universities should “understand and accommodate difficulty in obtaining required documents, including IDs and transcripts,” per the guidance.
To support students once they enroll in a college or university, the guide recommends creating a space for justice system–impacted students to gather, providing students with access to employment opportunities and ensuring that career services are prepared to help system-involved students.
The department said in the guidance that colleges and universities have an important role to play in increasing access to higher education for current and formerly incarcerated students.
“Doing so facilitates successful reentry, strengthens communities, and promotes equity and equal opportunity,” the guidance states. “While there has been progress made to expand higher education opportunities for formerly incarcerated students, analysis of today’s landscape reveals that there are still significant barriers in place.”
